“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” ― Benjamin Franklin

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

5 Years ago on August 30, 2005

I apologize for posting this so late but as I am sure you can imagine, today was not an easy day for me or my family. 5 years ago today, Michael Williams, my cousin was viciously and brutally murdered on his way home from work that Tuesday morning. Somehow, when we hit the 5 year mark, I thought it would be easier. I thought by now we would be used to it. I thought wrong. Tonite I am angry. I am angry that his case is unsolved and that his killer runs free. I am angry that the justice system has failed for Mike, I am angry that despite all of the hours that I spend out in the blazing sun, weathering the storms, etc., we are still waiting for answers. That is all we do. We wait. We wait for the phone to ring and say that Mike's killer has been caught. We suffer enormous highs and lows everyday., every time the phone rings hoping that it is the news we have been waiting for. We hold onto each other and pretend that everything is going to be okay. Well guess what? It is NOT okay. It will never be okay again. The public thinks we are crazy. We ourselves question that one. Are we gullible? Are we stupid? Are we desperate for hope? Maybe. Defiantly. I may be the head of this organization but I am also the family member of an unsolved murder victim. Does anyone get that?? I miss Mike. I go out in the public all of the time and spend hours talking about him. I hear every story imaginable and have to filter through the bullshit and try at the same time to remain professional and hopeful. And believe me, there are days when I just don't want to do that. I want to scream. I want someone to listen. I want someone, anyone to just hug me and tell me that it will all be okay. I want my memories back. The one's of my childhood with Mike and all of the good times we have had that are now replaced with this tip and that lead and this little bit of info... It is so hard to remain hopeful. How and more importantly, WHY should we have to do this? Why does Mike's killer deserve more kindness than we do? We have to be patient. We can't accuse anyone. We have to have every "t" crossed and "i" dotted. We have to have honest and reliable witnesses. We have to have evidence. We have to have this and that and this and that and in the meantime...don't get frustrated, don't get angry, try to understand, be supportive, don't give up hope, ride the emotional roller coaster. WHY???? So some Son of a Bitch can walk around free while we are forced to live inside this prison? Can someone please tell me how this is fair???

3 comments:

BelindaYou have just described my feelings exactly. Why are our lives destroyed while the killers walk free and laugh cause they were so smart they got away with murder??WHERE IS LADY JUSTICE???????It matters to our family that some one pays for the horrendous crime of taking Mike's all! They took his life. He can no longer see a sunset or feel the soft breeze on his face. Feel a hug or enjoy the things that made him happy. Who was playing God that day and took his life????Is the country going down hill so badly that no one cares about murder anymore? Are we ready to accept that murder is ok and no one needs to be punished for the horrible crimes?Mike's MomAre we still proud of a country that has no punishment for committing murder????THIS IS SO WRONG!!!!

Just read about this murder in 2015 in a story about all the unsolved murders in eastern Ohio. I cannot find any news articles about this man's murder. It is very sad to see good people have their lives taken in homicides. There is a lot of human trash out there these days and I think maybe the relatives might want to move to a place like Idaho or the Pacific northwest to start a new life after suffering misery like this. Certain parts of the country became full of human trash after the steel mills and industries shut down. It is a lost cause to live in these places.

Michael Williams

Justice for Michael

Dalton's Candle

We have decided that since we can't get the written permission we need, the candle will travel with us permanently to represent Dalton wherever we go. It will be lit when ever possible to remind us never to forget that Dalton Springer was here.

Terry Ballard -Terry left his house with a friend on September 21, 1995. He was found at the BFI in East Palestine.Walter Valentine -Walter died from multiple gunshot wounds and his trailer was set on fire.Earl Tweed -Earl Tweed was murdered in East Liverpool at his store on July 30, 1973. Frank Daniels -Frank was found on September 8, 1974 on a bank of the Ohio River. He was 14 years old.

Irvin Keefer - Irvin Keefer was shot during a robbery at his gas station/mini mart in Glenmoor on January 14, 1976.Bruce Burton -Bruce was found 200 yards from his home in a field. He died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Jamie Huffman -Jamie was on his way home from Stitches Bar when he was found on the road by a passerby. He later died in the hospital.Christopher Joy Jr. - Christopher was beaten to death in his home. He was 18 months old. His mother's boyfriend was charged for his death and then released. You can read his entire story by searching our archives from March.

Sherry Ieropoli - Sherry was shot to death in her home on August 24, 2008. Her case is still under investigation and was just recently ruled a homicide.

Dick Hubbard -Dick was murdered outside his apartment behind Loudon Ford in Salem on June 6, 1986. He died from a gunshot wound. He owned Hubbards' Truck Stop at 44139 SR 14 in Columbiana.

Dalton Springer -Dalton was only 3 years old when he was beaten to death in November 17, 2000. Little else is known about this little boy.

James Brenneman -James went missing from East Liverpool in January of 1971. His body was later found in the Ohio river.

James Anthony Sr. -James was working at Century Gas Station when he was beaten during a robbery. He died 5 years later.

Gerald Klusch -Gerald was last seen on September 29, 2011 at around 1 pm. His body was discovered on November 18, 2011.

Ardes Ruth Bauman - The Columbiana County Coroner's Office issued its final ruling Monday in the case of 60-year-old Ardes Ruth Bauman, whose body was discovered Oct. 25, 2010 by a Perry Township police officer who noticed a small fire and a van in the closed off area known as Cry Baby Bridge.

Linda & Angela Morris -Linda and her 4 year old daughter Angela as well as her unborn child were murdered in East Liverpool in 1973 during a robbery in progress at The Tweed Furniture Store. Earl Tweed was also killed in that robbery.

If you have any information regarding these open cases, I urge you to please contact the Columbiana County Sheriff's department at 330-424-7255. Do all that you can to help the families finally have a sense of peace and justice for their loved ones.